Ratings: NBC’s ‘American Ninja Warrior’ Returns Strong

05 26 2015By: Rick Kissel

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NBC was the broadcast leader in key demos Monday thanks to a nice return for “American Ninja Warrior” and an OK start for another alternative series, “The Island.”

According to preliminary national estimates from Nielsen, “American Ninja Warrior” averaged a 1.8 rating/6 share in adults 18-49 and 5.9 million viewers overall to stand as the night’s No. 1 series in both categories. It was up 12% (0.2) from the show’s year-ago premiere, which aired from 9 to 11, and matched the show’s season finale of last summer. “Ninja” was followed by the series premiere of Bear Grylls’ latest show for the network, “The Island” (1.2/4 in 18-49, 4.0 million viewers overall). The survival series came in right between NBC’s two unscripted series launches of last summer (a 1.0 for “Food Fighters” and a 1.4 for “Running Wild with Bear Grylls”).